Lee Yeonghee and Jung Yonghwa encounter each other as the guide and the traveller in drama ‘The Package’.

Their rendezvous excites one’s heart like the view you see as you open the window of an exotic room.

features editor Kim Young Jae

Jung Yonghwa's Private Travel

Q. What’s the story behind San Maru that you play in The Package?

He boards the plane for Paris alone because of a conflict with his girlfriend. Though he ponders whether he will go back, he’s a lighthearted character. The present situation is more important to him than being despaired or having a heartache because he was dumped. I anticipate it all the more because he has the closest personality to mine among all the roles I’ve played so far.

Q. What if you picked an OST for him among CNBLUE’s albums?

“Love light” because it’s not doleful. I’m different from him though. When I’m sad, I listen to sad music.

Q. Do you usually have opportunities to travel?

Often, I go abroad for overseas tours but all I do is perform. It was such a shame I couldn’t really take a look around in Peru, Mexico, and Chile after 30 hours of flight. It’s also my first time going to Paris, where we’ll be filming the drama.

Q. What would be your dream trip?

There are private islands for very few travelers. I wanna travel to such a place where there’s no one.

Q. Do you cope well with lone time?

My personality changed a lot after debut. When I was little, I spent most of my time outside hanging out with friends. Now, I prefer staying at home. For hours, I’d just sit still on the sofa. I guess the sofa is my private island (laughs).

Q. When you travel, unfamiliar things around you tend to become inspirations. Is there a song you made while performing abroad?

Half of CNBLUE’s songs are written that way. Just being in the hotel room itself makes me emotional. The outside view is so different. The atmosphere feels different than the studio or my home, it makes it easier to write songs. When I go to hotel, I always sit at the desk first. Every hotel feels different, it’s like I’m starting anew each time.

Q. If you were to make a drama about traveling, how would you do it?

It’d be a documentary-like music drama. The only character is the musician, the setting is a hotel with a nice view (laughs). The story is simple. It’ll film the process of writing a song in a hotel room. Now that I think about it, it’d be too boring, haha.

Q. Do you tend to get used to the new people and the new environment each time you’re in a new drama?

I still find it difficult. But I try to enliven the atmosphere first. That way, those around me won’t feel uncomfortable around me, which in turn makes me comfortable.

Q. How will it turn out this time?

I think we’ll become friends quickly. We’ll be filming abroad, and we only have each other to depend on. We’ll see each other’s face to boredom (laughs).

Q. For actors, playing a character is also an experience of living another life. Is there a drama that made you learn many things?

The fusion historical drama, ‘The Three Musketeers’. It was my first time trying action, and it felt like I lived in the Chosun Dynasty for a while. Before, I used to play characters with gloomy personalities, but (Dalhyang) was much lighthearted, like I am. It lessened my burden in acting. Personally, it gave me an opportunity to be comfortable and show my real self to other people.

Q. If someone else experienced Jung Yonghwa’s life, what will they enjoy?

You’ll be able to do many things. You can sing, perform, go to Paris to film a drama.

Q. What more do you wanna try?

I think I’ve done all I could. Now, I want to have depth to what I’m doing already. I wanna hear that I’m good at them.

This article made me laugh - such a sweet and funny personality he has. I esp. like his idea for a documentary about a musician visiting different hotel rooms. Then he realizes how boring that is! Thanks so much for posting--

Love this interview! His answers I feel has more loneliness tone to it! Maybe bcz of the type of questions asked. Him going places just performing & no time to explore , his preference for a hide away island ,, him calling his sofa his private island. He made it a joke but it made my heart ache! And him preferring to stay home than going out w/ friends like he used to. Ahh Yonghwayahhh maybe I'm just missing you . Love this glimpse on your psyche. Wish you always happiness & fulfillment in all you do. You have done everything & I'll be here always cheering you on as you now focus on polishing your self deeply into your craft. I know you'll do extremely well. No doubt about that.

Sometimes we all need our own private island, a place that we can just be ourselves without anybody to disturb or judge us. Being a popular celebrity, YH must be feeling it even more. OTOH, it's quite sad that he apparently has quite a lonely lifestyle. I'm talking about being surrounded by people, media & fans but still feeling like you're in a lonely island. But it's just life; we all come to that realization sooner or later. The difference is that YH has been made to get there sooner due his circumstances & experiences which, I dare say, is not necessarily a bad thing. It will spare him from future disappointment & heartbreak.

Thank you so much for the translation. Love the interview and his answers, gives some good insight of him. Maybe he now likes to spend time alone so that he can truely be who he is and let his hair down and relax. Being constantly in the media and stalked by fans must be tiring.

Every interview brings some insights of Yonghwa's thoughts which it is a pleasure to find them! I like the childish side of him, but also the serious one- in fact I love his personality! Thanks for sharing!